A FOUR-year-old girl praised for her quick thinking after saving her mum from serious injury has become the youngest person to receive a top police award.

Lexi Cooper has received a Divisional Commander’s Commendation after ringing 999 when her mum was knocked unconscious after a bookcase fell on top of her.

Mum-of-three Nicola Ellis, 25, was trapped beneath the bookcase and not moving at their home in Blackburn. When Lexi could not rouse her, she used a mobile phone to ring 999.

She explained to the emergency service operator, Sophie Roscoe, that her mum was asleep, she could not wake her up, and that a shelf had fallen on her head.

Nicola was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital and was treated for a dislocated shoulder, neck, wrist and pelvis injuries.She has since made a near full recovery from the accident last month apart from suffering with concussion.

Lexi was given the award by East Division Commander Chief Supt Chris Bithell and the Mayor of Blackburn, Coun Salim Mulla, at a ceremony at the Mayor's Office in Blackburn yesterday.

Nicola said: “I am so thankful and proud of Lexi for what she did. She stayed very calm and was very brave to ring 999 to get help. She had recently had a talk at school about the emergency services which meant she knew what to do in this situation.

“Without her quick thinking and bravery, who knows how this situation could have ended. I could have been left unconscious for hours.”

Contact centre agent Sophie said: "I am very proud to have been recognised for the way I handled the 999 call, but it was Lexi who was the real star. She was absolutely fantastic and that call will stay with me.”

@drunken donut So the woman made the bookcase fall on top of her, then made her little girl phone an ambulance! how does being on benefits have to do with this story anyway what planet do you live on seriously stop being such a nasty person the little girl did a great job

@drunken donut So the woman made the bookcase fall on top of her, then made her little girl phone an ambulance! how does being on benefits have to do with this story anyway what planet do you live on seriously stop being such a nasty person the little girl did a great jobTallyp